Organic Food Can Feed the World, Maine College Students

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:34:53 GMT

According to researchers at the University of Michigan, organic farms can produce more than enough food to support the world's population without converting any additional land to crop production. Cooks David Crooker and Daran Poulin have been sustainably feeding a much smaller population of 1,700 college students at Bowdoin College in Maine for years. They're profiled, along with Arnold Luce of Luce's Meats in UCS's latest installment of Green Cuisine, an ongoing feature that follows food from sustainable farms to the kitchens of leading chefs. Check out Crooker and Poulin's environmentally-friendly recipe for braised beef and root vegetables with blueberry wine.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Interactive Map of Nuclear Reactors and Safety Problems

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:41:07 GMT

Here at the Union of Concerned Scientists, our experts pour through reams of data related to several issues, including pollution from cars and trucks, grassfed beef and global warming pollution. We've just launched a cool project that gives life to some of the data on safety problems at nuclear power plants, including groundwater contamination from tritium leaks. The Nuclear Power Information Tracker is a fully interactive map showing operating, permanently closed, and proposed nuclear reactors in the continental United States. Moving a cursor over and/or clicking on a reactor will bring up more in-depth information about each reactor, including owner and licensing dates; local population; past and present safety issues; UCS letters to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); and testimony to Congress. If you have any suggestions for improving the tracker or if you have additional issues you think would be interesting to highlight, leave a comment below.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

USDA Grass-Fed Beef Label in the Works

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:58:40 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new rules for labeling meat from grass-fed livestock. The rules stipulate that meat labeled "grass fed" must come from animals fed solely on grasses, hay and other non-grain vegetation. This label will help consumers choose meat from 'smart pasture operations' that are better for the environment. Unlike massive confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), these farms use sophisticated land management practices to maximize productivity without despoiling our air, water and soil. Raising livestock on pastures avoids the crowding and illnesses that plague livestock in CAFOs. Modern grass-fed methods are also more cost-effective and environmentally friendly because they take advantage of low-cost grasses that typically require little added water, and few or no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. A growing number of farmers across the country are now turning to this modern approach to livestock production.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

What's the EPA Waiting for on Clean Cars?

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:27:05 GMT

Twelve states, representing a third of the U.S. auto market, have adopted clean car standards to reduce global warming pollution from vehicles-and even more are considering doing so. Yet, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, for years, blocked the states from implementing their laws. Despite overwhelming public support for the waiver, in the next few weeks, the EPA may attempt to quietly introduce conditions that would undermine states' ability to implement their clean car standards. It's imperative that EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson be reminded that the U.S. public is awaiting a decision and that he has the responsibility to unconditionally approve the clean car standards waiver. Send him a letter today urging him to let the states move ahead with the laws they've passed.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Microwaves vs. Ovens: What's the Greenest Way to Heat Your Food?

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:57:55 GMT

You might have several appliances available in your kitchen that can cook, but which one you choose-and how you use it-can have a significant impact on your energy consumption. Here are some general tips for getting the most out of your appliances and a relatively easy way to figure out which appliance would use the least amount of energy to cook your food. Stovetops: With an electric stovetop, make sure your pan completely covers the heating element. With gas burners, make sure the flame is fully below the pan; otherwise, you're paying to heat the air around the pan, not just the pan itself. Also, use the appropriate size pan for your meal. Smaller pans are easier to heat up. Keep appliances clean. Clean surfaces maximize the amount of energy reflected toward your food. This applies to microwaves, toasters, ovens and other appliances.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tell Toyota to Walk the Walk on Fuel Economy

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:33:23 GMT

The Union of Concerned Scientists and a number of other groups have been blasting Toyota for failing to endorse a strong boost to U.S. fuel economy standards. Instead, the company, which invests heavily in marketing itself as green, backs a loophole-ridden bill that would deliver significantly less cuts to global warming pollution. Treehugger has already coveredTom Friedman's column on this subject in the New York Times. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Home Energy Usage

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:13:59 GMT

The type of home you live in is one of the most important decisions you can make as a consumer. A home's energy use and its distance to your place or work and shopping centers are a major component of your environmental impact. Making an environmentally conscious housing decision will not only help reduce your energy consumption, but will also lower your maintenance and energy bills. In addition, some mortgage lenders and financial service companies have recognized the importance of a home's environmental impact and offer mortgage benefits to buyers of energy-efficient houses. Keep these considerations in mind when house hunting:... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Forest-Smart Buying Can Lower Your Carbon Footprint

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:56:29 GMT

Tropical deforestation is responsible for about 20 percent of total annual global warming emissions, making it second only to fossil fuels in terms of climate impact. Forests play a major role in regulating global temperatures by absorbing heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in their cell walls. Earth loses more than 18 million acres of forestland every year-an area larger than Ireland-according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The best way to reduce emissions from tropical deforestation is to help ensure these trees are not cut down in the first place. Your purchasing decisions can play a role in this effort: Wood: When buying wood products, look for labels that indicate the wood comes from sustainably managed forests. There are several forest certification programs in place worldwide. For home improvement projects, you can avoid new wood products altogether by using reclaimed wood for floors and wood-free materials (such as composite resin boards) for other projects.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Are there green dry cleaners?

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:15:29 GMT

Contrary to what its name implies, dry cleaning involves washing clothes in a liquid solvent to remove stains. In about 85 percent of dry cleaning shops this solvent is perchloroethylene (or "perc"), a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers both a health and environmental hazard. Dry cleaning is not always necessary; clothing makers often place the "dry clean only" label on tags because they can list no more than one cleaning method and can be held liable if an item is damaged when the owner follows the listed procedure. Yet many of these items can be safely washed at home, either by hand or using a washing machine's delicate cycle. For clothes that must be professionally cleaned due to their size, fabric, decorations, or other factors, there is no perfect solution, but you could consider using a cleaner that offers one of the following perc-free methods. The EPA has a PDF list of drycleaners that use two alternative methods - wet cleaning and CO2 cleaning. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failing to Protect Our Air, Again

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:15:54 GMT

Photo credit: infinitewilderness Ozone, a chemical that occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere, helps protect us from the sun's radiation. But, when it's released close to Earth's surface through human activity, ozone is dangerous and can cause numerous adverse health effects such as asthma and lung damage. The Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control pollution from ozone based solely on the best available science. Yet the EPA has announced a draft ozone pollution standard that falls short of what the agency's own scientists and science advisors consider safe. In June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a draft ozone pollution standard that falls short of the level considered safe by EPA scientific experts. Furthermore, the proposal would allow the agency to avoid tightening the standard altogether, despite unanimous agreement from its own scientists and science advisors that the current standard is not safe. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

New Feature Pairs Farmers, Chefs for Earth-Friendly Recipes

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:50:01 GMT

Chefs all around the country are committed to using local, organic ingredients in their dishes. In the first installment of Green Cuisine, the Union of Concerned Scientists profiles Nora Pouillon, owner of Restaurant Nora and Asia Nora in the nation's capital and local grower Jim Crawford of New Morning Farm and the Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative. Check out Nora's recipe for local and organic 10 tomato pasta. And see a slide show that covers an environmentally-friendly journey from farm to plate. UCS will be updating Green Cuisine every season with a new chef, a new farmer, a new recipe.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Winner announced in cartoon contest, calendars available

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:53:25 GMT

During the past several weeks, the Union of Concerned Scientists invited the public to help choose the winner in Science Idol: the Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest. And after almost 20,000 votes were cast, Jesse Springer of Eugene, Oregon is the contest winner. Springer is a self-employed graphic designer and an aspiring editorial cartoonist. "Cartoons are a powerful medium," he says. "If I can draw some compelling cartoons that shed light on the negative impact of governmental interference with science, and more people become aware of the problem as a result, then perhaps we can start to see a change for the better." Springer will soon be off to Washington, D.C. to have lunch with Washington Post cartoonist Tom Toles. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

House Paves the Way for Clean Energy Future

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:00:21 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a huge boost to renewable electricity in the United States in a rare Saturday vote. The amendment, which passed 290-170, would require utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal by 2020. Utilities would be able to meet part of the requirement through energy efficiency. Twenty-four states already have renewable electricity standards and several have strengthened those standards over the past few years. According to UCS analysis, developing a national market for renewable power will create jobs, increase farm income and lead to significant consumer savings on electricity bills. Passage of the renewable electricity standard was a long time in the making. The US Senate had passed a 10 percent RPS three times since 2002-most recently in June 2005. This year, a vote on a renewable electricity standard was blocked during the Senate's energy bill debate.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

What's in Your Palette?

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:54:20 GMT

Some art supplies contain environmentally harmful ingredients, notably naturally occurring heavy metals such as lead, cobalt, cadmium, and manganese, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). So, how can you express yourself creatively while protecting the environment? Know what you're buying. The federal government requires that hazardous art supplies be labeled as such. In addition, the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) has developed two supplemental labels to help guide your purchasing decisions: AP (Approved Product)-Indicates that the product contains no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic. The ACMI website lists all products bearing this label. CL (Cautionary Label)-Indicates that the product contains toxic substances but is fully tested and sufficiently labeled with warnings and safe use information.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

What Could Global Warming do to the Northeastern United States?

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:25:29 GMT

The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a peer-reviewed report on the impact global warming could have in nine Northeastern states. Combining the expertise of 50 scientists and economists, the report takes a detailed look at the consequences of sticking with a fossil-fuel dependent economy or switching to cleaner, greener alternatives. The differences between the two scenarios in the report are stark. Under the higher-emissions scenario, only Western Maine would have a reliable ski season by the end of the century, but under the lower-emissions scenario, many other parts of the Northeast would retain their ski seasons for winter recreation. Sea level rise is another big factor, with the higher-emissions scenario predicting much more frequent severe flooding for several major cities in the region, with less frequent floods under the lower-emissions scenario.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

A World of Reasons to Ditch Bottled Water

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:02:04 GMT

Bottled water manufacturers' encourage the perception that their products are purer and safer than tap water. Bottled water can cost up to 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water. But the reality is that tap water is actually held to more stringent quality standards than bottled water, and some brands of bottled water are just tap water in disguise. What's more, our increasing consumption of bottled water-more than 22 gallons per U.S. citizen in 2004 according to the Earth Policy Institute-fuels an unsustainable industry that takes a heavy toll on the environment. Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil-enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year-are used to make plastic water bottles, while transporting these bottles burns even more oil.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Voting Opens on Scientific Integrity Cartoons

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:57:25 GMT

The Union of Concerned Scientists has kicked off voting for its second annual "Science Idol" editorial cartoon contest. You can view all 12 finalists and cast your vote for the winner. Everyone who votes will have the chance to win limited edition T-shirts plus copies of the 2008 UCS scientific integrity calendar. The cartoon contest highlights the continuing problem of political interference in federal science regarding everything from global warming to public health. 2007 UCS Science Idol winner James McLeod, along with Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau, Washington Post cartoonist Tom Toles and Speed Bump artist Dave Coverly, helped choose the finalists, whose drawings will appear in the 2008 UCS scientific integrity calendar. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Urge USA Congress to Support Cool Cars and Clean Energy

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:57:13 GMT

In response to the public outcry over high energy prices, global warming pollution and oil security issues, Congress is moving forward with a package of major energy, fuels and transportation proposals that will be considered and voted upon over the next two months. These bills represent the best chance Americans have had in decades to make serious strides toward cleaner energy and transportation. Whether this year's energy bill will be a change for the better, business as usual, or a setback for consumers and the environment depends on the outcome of three major issues: fuel economy, renewable energy and renewable fuels. Click here to tell your representatives that you want strong legislation that will help protect our environment and strengthen the economy. UCS's Web site has an in-depth explanation of what's at stake on each aspect of upcoming legislation.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Burn it Where You Buy it to Stop Invasive Species

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:10:29 GMT

Last week's Memorial Day weekend kicked off the start of summer. Like many others in the Northern Hemisphere, your summer plans might include a picnic or camping trip in one of many beautiful state or national parks, national forests, or private campgrounds. You probably already know that to protect the beauty of these special places you should remove your trash and put out your campfire before you head home. But did you know that you also should not transport firewood? Forests are threatened by non-native forest pests-highly destructive insects and diseases that threaten our forests and the clean water, recreation, and other resources they provide. Since these forest pests survive inside wood where you can't see them, they can be transported long distances by accident. You can help protect forests with a simple action-Don't transport firewood! This summer, spread the message, not the pest. Take the Firewood Pledge today and then tell your family and friends. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ditch the Golf Course Look and Landscape for the Planet

Mon, 21 May 2007 22:19:49 GMT

The space around our homes provides us with places to play and relax. To local wildlife, however, expanses of lush, green grass might as well be asphalt. Lawns provide animals with no shade, shelter, or food, and the runoff from fertilizers and pesticides applied to lawns can contaminate wildlife habitats. Instead of cultivating a sea of grass, consider incorporating some of the following elements around your home to create a landscape that is not only beautiful but also promotes a variety of animal and insect life. Go wild. Convert a section of your lawn to prairie or wildflower meadow. This not only reduces the amount of grass you have to maintain, but also creates more natural space in which local animals and insects may reside. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Keep Antibiotics Working

Mon, 14 May 2007 14:22:13 GMT

An estimated 70 percent of all antibiotics used in the United States are regularly added to the feed of livestock and poultry that are not sick. The antibiotics are used to promote growth for the animals, but they also have negative effects on human health. When bacteria are constantly exposed to the antibiotics, they become resistant to the drugs. As these resistant strains of bacteria move through the environment, the antibiotics used to preserve human health become less effective. Scientists agree that the misuse of antibiotics is contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant human diseases. Patients suffer through longer illnesses and higher medical costs, and doctors are left with a dwindling arsenal of drugs to fight disease. UCS and other groups are working to protect the important role antibiotics play in medicine. There are two complimentary bill in Congress that would target the antibiotics unnecessarily used in livestock feed that have the most potential to hurt public health. Please write to your representatives today and ask them to support the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cut Back on Energy Use from Your Dryer

Thu, 10 May 2007 14:42:58 GMT

Electric dryers are often among the top energy-uses in a home, right behind refrigerators, lighting and water heaters. Because the average dryer uses 875 killowatt hours of electricity a year, it's a prime target for reducing global warming pollution and saving money on your utility bill. The best way to cut dryer use is to hang clothes to dry whenever possible, either outdoors or in the home. However, there are other ways to operate a dryer more efficiently that can cut its total energy use:... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Help Bring Toyota's Hybrid Minivan to the U.S.

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:25:56 GMT

Automakers have been showing off their hybrids to trumpet their environmental commitment. But not all hybrids are created equal. Hybrid technology, as used in such models as the Toyota Prius and Camry Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, and Ford Escape Hybrid, has the potential to play a major role in giving consumers fuel-efficient, low-pollution options in every vehicle class. Unfortunately, with this year's introduction of vehicles such as the GMC Yukon Hybrid, Dodge Durango Hybrid, and Lexus LS 600h L, the increased automaker focus on "muscle hybrid" models undercuts the value of this technology as a part a global warming pollution, gas price, and oil security solution. This is a disturbing trend compounded by "hollow hybrid" vehicles that use the hybrid name but do not qualify as hybrid vehicles (for more on hybrid vehicle characteristics, see our Hybrid Watchdog. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tell the Wall Street Seven to Start Financing Clean Energy!

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:13:55 GMT

Coal-fired power plants are the biggest sources of global warming pollution in the United States. Right now, utilities are proposing the construction of more than 150 coal-fired power plants. If built, these plants would increase U.S. global warming pollution by 25 percent. They would also create other types of pollution, notably mercury. The Wall Street Seven, a group of banks including JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley, are the major funders for the new plants. Please send a letter calling on these banks to end their support for proposed coal plants and to help finance clean, renewable energy instead. See also: ::Incredible Growth for Solar Power Industry, ::How Much Land to Power The Whole World with Solar?, ::World's Largest Thin-Film Solar Power Plant Opens... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cartoons Are Funny; Manipulating Science is Not

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:30:37 GMT

Last year's editorial cartoon contest from the Union of Concerned Scientists was such a success that we're doing it again this year. Amateurs and professionals alike are invited to submit a cartoon on political interference in science. The judges for this year's contest include Washington Post editorial cartoonist Tom Toles and "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau. They will be joined by Dave Coverly, the man behind "Speed Bump," and James MacLeod, the Evansville, Indiana history professor who won last year's contest. The Science Idol winner will get $500 and a free 3-day trip to the nation's capital to have lunch with Toles. The contest deadline is May 22. If you know someone who might be interested, you should tell them about the contest. For additional inspiration, or for a few laughs, check out last year's finalists.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tell US Congress to Strengthen Fuel Economy Standards

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:05:52 GMT

The cars we drive could go much farther on a gallon of gas. Making cars more fuel-efficient can reduce oil dependence, save drivers money at the pump and cut back on global warming pollution. But the average fuel economy of the vehicles automakers build has remained stagnant for decades. The automakers already have the technology to make more fuel-efficient vehicles, even SUVs. What we have now is a tremendous opportunity to pass strong national fuel economy standards. Representatives Edward Markey (D-MA) and Todd Platts (R-PA) have introduced the Fuel Economy Reform Act, a bipartisan measure that would strengthen U.S. fuel economy standards. You can tell your member of Congress to support the bill. If your representative has already signed on, they will be listed here. You can send them a letter of thanks through the link at the top.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recycled Paper to Write Home About

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:24:06 GMT

The benefits of producing paper from recycled fibers are many: fewer trees cut down, less water and energy consumed, less pollution generated. But more than 90 percent of printing and writing paper still comes from virgin tree fiber. To help expand the market for recycled paper while meeting your needs and budget, here are some things to look out for when buying paper: Paper with a higher percentage of post-consumer content is the best choice. If packaging doesn't show the percentage, contact the manufacturer. If you can't buy a paper product that is 100 percent recycled, look for the Forest Stewardship Council certification label. This paper comes from forests managed in an environmentally responsible manner. Paper doesn't have to come from wood pulp; fibers from hemp, kenaf, flax, cotton, banana stalks, and other plant-based materials can be used to produce paper with fewer chemicals and less energy. Tree-free paper is generally more expensive, but is available from a variety of companies. Papers (even tree-free ones) are often bleached with chlorine or chlorine derivatives that form dioxin-a known carcinogen-and other compounds that pollute local air and water supplies. Look for products labeled either processed chlorine free (PCF) or totally chlorine free (TCF). For a full guide to recycled paper, check out Conservatree's database of recycled paper products.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Is Phantom Energy Haunting Your House?

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:04:28 GMT

Many of the electronic devices in your home stay on, even when they're "off." Chargers for cell phones, digital cameras, power tools and other gadgets draw energy even when they're not in use. Appliances like televisions, computer monitors and DVD players can also draw power whenever they're plugged into an outlet. All together, "phantom energy" use account for about 5 percent of an individual's home's electricity use. You can take some simple steps to reduce the financial and environmental impact from these "vampire" appliances. Unplugging devices is the simplest way to solve the problem, but can be a hassle. Plugging a couple of your devices into a surge protector that can be clicked on and off can make things easier. When you're shopping for a new device, check out this online database of products rated by their standby energy use from the Federal Energy Management Program at the U.S. Department of Energy. And devices that have the Energy Star label from the Environmental Protection Agency will use less energy when they're in or out of use. See also: ::How To Green Your Electricity... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Car the Automakers Can - and Should - Be Making

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:36:10 GMT

Imagine cutting the amount of global warming pollution coming out of cars by over 40 percent - without using fuel cells, hybrid batteries or other state-of-the-art technology. Vehicles engineers at the Union of Concerned Scientists have done just that. By combining a suite of technologies including biofuels, improvements in engine efficiency and load reduction, already found piece-meal in over a hundred models from major manufacturers, UCS has designed a car that fights global warming and saves drivers money. Cars using the Vanguard technology package would beat California's global warming standards, which 10 other states of adopted. But instead of making the cars people want, automakers - led by their legal and lobbying group, the Auto Alliance - are trying to eliminate these clean car rules.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Engineered Plants to Be Grown Outdoors in Washington State

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:42:45 GMT

Drug and biotech companies are using food crops to produce pharmaceutical drugs, industrial chemicals, research chemicals, untested food additives and other products. These drugs and chemicals could harm our families if they wind up in common foods such as corn chips, cereal, and baby food. A Canadian company is poised to ramp up production of genetically engineered safflower to 1,000 acres in Washington State. The company has engineered the safflower plant-typically grown for the vegetable oil obtained from its seeds-to produce a drug to boost the immune systems of farmed shrimp. Growing drug-producing food crops outdoors poses risks to public health and threatens the economic well-being of farmers because these crops are likely to contaminate our food supply. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

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